KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 23 January) – Two of the three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels that died in a clash with government troops in Barangay Luayon, Makilala, North Cotabato on Monday were already identified by their relatives, a police official said.
Chief Inspector Johnny Rick Medel, chief of the Makilala Police, identified the slain suspected rebels as Raymart Rusiana, 25, of Makilala, and Armand Mendoza, 39, of Barangay Nuling, Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.
Rusiana and Mendoza were identified by Renato Rusiana, also a resident of Makilala.
Raymart is Renato’s step son, the Makilala police said.
Renato refused to tell the police anything about his stepson’s supposed involvement in the NPA.
The Makilala police said the other slain guerrilla was still unidentified but his remains were already brought to the Collado Funeral Homes in Kidapawan City, along with those of Raymart and Mendoza.
Meanwhile, the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member who was killed in the clash was identified as Julito Apalan.
Six other CAFGU members were wounded. They were identified as Edgar Delima, Olegario Rollorta, Raffy Aguana, Jimmy Gonzaga, Joel Daguan, and Jose Angcob, all under the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion.
Lt. Lea Canseran, spokesperson of the 39IB, said the rebels that attacked their detachment in Luayon belong to the NPA Guerilla Front 72 operating in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.
Canseran said they would continue their pursuit operations against the rebels despite reports that they have already fled to the hinterlands.
Classes in Luayon were set to resume on Tuesday after authorities assured the safety of students and teachers. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)